Corporate travel technology is at the heart of The Beat's coverage, and this year's The Beat Live conference in New Orleans in October won't skimp on tech talk either. In addition to featured speakers, several engaging panel discussions will examine how evolving technology impacts various constituents. They include:
• The Tech User's Experience: This session will include perspectives on what corporate travelers need and want from tech tools, and how the industry is working to bridge the gap between consumer and B2B products and services. Moderated by analyst and consultant Norm Rose, the expert panel includes KDS CEO Dean Forbes, BCD Travel director of strategic marketing Miriam Moscovici, Concur VP of user experience Robb Nielsen and Glenn Gruber from mobile strategy firm Propelics.
• New-AgeTMC Platforms and Systems Integration: At last year's conference, a sentiment shared among many attendees was that TMCs no longer are innovating. However, whether investing to build end-to-end systems internally and/or integrating various other systems and content sources, some agencies in the past year have proven that to be a poor generalization. The Beat's David Jonas will lead a discussion with TMC executives about how their companies are evolving their technology platforms to better serve clients today and tomorrow.
• The Implications Of Emerging Hotel Distribution Technologies: This panel will explore how new hotel booking technologies impact corporate travel and affect hotel companies' revenue management and distribution strategies. Confirmed panelists include Olset co-founder and CEO Gadi Bashvitz; Carlson Wagonlit Travel hotel solutions group director Yon Abad; and Starwood Hotels & Resorts VP of global online distribution Julie Atkinson. Michael B. Baker, The Beat's resident hotel industry expert, will handle moderating duties.
Featured speakers at this year's conference include Carlson Wagonlit Travel CEO Doug Anderson, Travelport CEO Gordon Wilson and Southwest Airlines chief marketing officerKevin Krone. Want to be slotted into the lineup? Get your Keynote pitch in now!
Join us in New Orleans at The Beat Live, October 6-8. Register before Aug. 31, 2014, to take advantage of the early-bird conference registration rate of $1,695 and join us at The Sheraton New Orleans to go off-beat at The Beat Live! Visit www.TheBeat.travel/live